Question 1

In the United States, the federal government and the state and local governments share power with one another. In some instances, the federal government has powers that the state governments do not have and the states have power the federal government does not have, while in other instances the state and federal governments share power. This is an example of which system of government?

Accepted Answer

Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a strong central government (federal government in the case of the US) and smaller political units (state and local governments). In federalism, both the federal government and state governments have their own separate spheres of power and authority, but they also share some powers and responsibilities. This is the system of government that is practiced in the United States.

Question 2

What is the primary difference between enumerated powers and reserved powers?

Accepted Answer

Enumerated powers are specifically listed in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution as belonging to Congress, while reserved powers are those not delegated to the federal government and are therefore reserved for the states under the Tenth Amendment.

Question 3

Each year, Americans are required to pay taxes to their state government and to the federal government based on their personal income the previous year. This ability of the states and the federal government to collect taxes from its citizens is an example of ______.

Accepted Answer

The ability to collect taxes is a concurrent power, meaning that both the state and federal governments have the power to tax their citizens. This is outlined in the U.S. Constitution and is not an enumerated power of Congress or an implied power of the president. Additionally, it is not a reserved power retained by the states, as both levels of government possess the authority to levy taxes.

Question 4

What is the most likely reason the Founders preferred a system of federalism over any other form of government?

Accepted Answer

The Founder's preference for federalism was likely based on their experience with British rule and the limitations of the Articles of Confederation. Under British rule, the colonies were subject to a strong central government with little state power, while the Articles of Confederation gave too much power to the states and made it difficult to operate as a unified nation. Federalism provided a balance between national and state power, allowing for a stronger central government while still ensuring that states had some autonomy.

Question 5

How has the necessary and proper clause been interpreted since the adoption of the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

The necessary and proper clause, also known as the elastic clause, has been largely interpreted to expand the powers of the federal government and Congress beyond their enumerated powers listed in the Constitution. This interpretation has allowed Congress to create laws and take actions as long as they are deemed necessary and proper to carry out their enumerated powers. Examples include the creation of the Federal Reserve and the regulation of interstate commerce.

Question 6

Which option best describes concurrent powers?

Accepted Answer

Concurrent powers are powers that are shared by the federal and state governments. These powers are not exclusive to one level of government and can be exercised by both. Examples of concurrent powers include the power to tax, build roads, and enforce laws.

Question 7

Although the federal government has established a national Election Day in the United States and there are several amendments that prohibit discrimination when it comes to voting, states have most of the power over the voting process. Each state has different voter registration and identification laws that the citizens in that state must abide by. This would make voting a(n) ______.

Accepted Answer

States have the reserved power over voting processes, as established by the Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.

Question 8

What are reserved powers?

Accepted Answer

Reserved powers refers to those powers that are not granted to the national government by the Constitution and are therefore reserved for the states. These powers are derived from the Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which explicitly states that all powers not granted to the federal government are retained by the states.

Question 9

The enumerated powers that are granted to Congress are done so in which part of the U.S. Constitution?

Accepted Answer

The enumerated powers of Congress are listed in Article I of the U.S. Constitution.

Question 10

Which type of power best embodies the system of federalism?

Accepted Answer

Concurrent powers best embody the system of federalism because they are powers shared by both the state and federal governments. This means that both levels of government have authority in certain areas, which is a key aspect of federalism. Enumerated powers (A) give more authority to the central government, while reserved powers (B) indicate more power for the states. Supremacy powers (D) establish national laws as the highest law of the land, but they do not necessarily embody the system of federalism as a whole.

Question 11

Suppose Congress has decided to establish a new branch of the military to work on weapons and other military technologies that can be used in space to carry out attacks against foreign enemies, including another nation's satellites during wartime. Congress has the ability to establish this new branch of the military per the U.S. Constitution. What is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of Congress exercising its enumerated powers as outlined in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, which gives Congress the power to "provide for the common defense" and "declare war." Additionally, the power to create and regulate the military is specifically listed as an enumerated power in this section.

Question 12

In the United States, the federal government has the power to propose amendments to the Constitution, while the states have the power to ratify those amendments. This division of power over the amendment process is an example of ______.

Accepted Answer

The division of power between the federal government and the states in proposing and ratifying amendments to the Constitution is an example of federalism, which is a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units, such as states. It is not an example of tyranny or government overreach because both the federal government and the states have a specific role in the amendment process. It is also not an example of a confederation of states because the federal government has a significant role in proposing amendments.

Question 13

Prior to the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, which type of government did the United States have?

Accepted Answer

Prior to the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, the United States had a confederation, known as the Articles of Confederation, in which power was primarily held by the states and the central government had limited authority.

Question 14

The idea that the states retain certain powers that are not specifically granted to the federal government in Article I is reinforced by which part of the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

The Tenth Amendment explicitly states that any powers not delegated to the federal government nor prohibited to the states are reserved for the states or the people. This reinforces the idea that the states have certain powers that are not specifically granted to the federal government in Article I.

Question 15

What is a confederation?

Accepted Answer

A confederation is a league of multiple states that unite to achieve shared goals, such as mutual defense, economic cooperation, or political power. It differs from a unitary state in that power is decentralized, with individual states retaining a significant degree of sovereignty. Examples include the European Union and the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War.

Question 16

Who has sovereignty in a federalist system?

Accepted Answer

In a federalist system, sovereignty is shared between the states and the federal government. Each has their own specific powers and responsibilities, but they also work together to govern the country as a whole. This concept of dual sovereignty is a key component of federalism. Option A is incorrect because while states have a degree of autonomy, they do not have complete sovereignty in a federalist system. Option C is also incorrect as the central government does not have exclusive sovereignty. finally, Option D is incorrect because a single executive would not have sovereignty in a federalist system - sovereignty is distributed among multiple levels of government.

Question 17

The provision of the Constitution stating that the laws made by Congress take precedent over any state law is known as the ______.

Accepted Answer

The Supremacy Clause, found in Article VI of the Constitution, establishes that federal law takes precedence over state law in the event of a conflict. This clause strengthens the power and authority of the federal government in relation to the individual states.

Question 18

Why were the Founders likely wary of implementing a more unitary form of government?

Accepted Answer

The Founders were concerned about the concentration of power in a central government, as this had been a major issue under British rule. Additionally, they wanted to preserve the sovereignty of the individual states and maintain a balance between the federal government and state governments. Therefore, they opted for a federal system, which allowed for shared power between the central government and the states. A unitary system would have subverted this balance and given the central government too much authority over the states.

Question 19

The powers of the federal government that are specifically listed in Article I of the U.S. Constitution are known as ______.

Accepted Answer

The powers of the federal government specifically listed in Article I of the U.S. Constitution are known as enumerated powers. These powers include the power to tax, regulate commerce, and declare war, among others.

Question 20

Who believed that federalism was the best "middle ground" of government types?

Accepted Answer

James Madison believed that federalism was the best "middle ground" of government types because it allowed for a division of power between the national government and state governments, preventing either one from becoming too powerful and threatening individual liberty. Madison argued for this system in his Federalist Papers, particularly in Federalist No. 10 and No. 51.

Quiz 3: Federalism